Each year, the federal government spends an estimated $10-$20 billion to purchase energy-related products. It is this equipment that is responsible for the more than $7 billion in annual energy bills paid by the government. The Federal Energy Management Program's (FEMP) Federal Procurement Challenge program helps agencies to select energy-efficient products for their buildings and facilities.
The Energy Policy Act of 1992(EPAct) directs the Department of Energy, in association with other agencies, to "identify and designate those energy-efficient products that offer significant potential savings." EPAct also calls for "guidelines to encourage the acquisition and use [of these products] by all federal agencies."
On June 3rd, 1999, President Clinton issued Executive Order 13123, which directs federal agencies to select ENERGY STAR labeled products or, for product groups where ENERGY STAR programs do not yet exist, "products that are in the upper 25 percent of energy efficiency as designated by FEMP."
The Federal Acquisition Regulations (48 CFR 23.704) help implement Executive Order 13123 by mandating that "agencies shall implement cost-effective contracting preference programs favoring the acquisition of products that are in the upper 25 percent of energy efficiency for all similar products."
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